Articles | Volume 22, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3699-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3699-2025
Research article
 | 
30 Jul 2025
Research article |  | 30 Jul 2025

Evaluating ocean alkalinity enhancement as a carbon dioxide removal strategy in the North Sea

Feifei Liu, Ute Daewel, Jan Kossack, Kubilay Timur Demir, Helmuth Thomas, and Corinna Schrum

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Cited articles

Albretsen, J., Aure, J., Sætre, R., and Danielssen, D. S: Climatic variability in the Skagerrak and coastal waters of Norway, ICES J. Marine Sci., 69, 758–763, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412953924.n678, 2012. 
Artioli, Y., Blackford, J. C., Butenschön, M., Holt, J. T., Wakelin, S. L., Thomas, H., Borges, A. V., and Allen, J. I.: The carbonate system in the North Sea: Sensitivity and model validation, J. Marine Syst., 102, 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.04.006, 2012. 
Bach, L. T.: The additionality problem of ocean alkalinity enhancement, Biogeosciences, 21, 261–277, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-261-2024, 2024. 
Bach, L. T., Gill, S. J., Rickaby, R. E., Gore, S., and Renforth, P.: CO2 removal with enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinity enhancement: potential risks and co-benefits for marine pelagic ecosystems, Front. Climate, 1, 476698, https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2019.00007, 2019. 
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Short summary
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) boosts oceanic CO₂ absorption, offering a climate solution. Using a regional model, we examined OAE in the North Sea, revealing that shallow coastal areas achieve higher CO₂ uptake than offshore where alkalinity is more susceptible to deep-ocean loss. Long-term carbon storage is limited, and pH shifts vary by location. Our findings guide OAE deployment to optimize carbon removal while minimizing ecological effects, supporting global climate mitigation efforts.
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